Earth's outer orbital space.
The flagship floating fortress of the Astartes Thirteenth Legion—nearly ten thousand meters tall and tens of kilometers in diameter—slowly approached its designated Earth orbit.
High-density Honkai Cubes, operating according to preset procedures, generated violent nuclear fusion reactions within specially constructed engine chambers, providing incomparably powerful thrust that propelled the floating island-like behemoth steadily downward.
Surrounding it were legion-affiliated fortress clusters and aerospace fleets that blanketed the void. Some had already entered the planet's atmospheric gravitational layer ahead of it.
They began matching the planet's rotational speed. According to data uploaded to the entire legion by the Jaegers, gun ports opened.
Hum hum hum hum!
Boom boom boom boom boom boom!!!
Lances of light stabbed downward like pillars of fire linking earth and sky. Supernatural temperatures ignited the surrounding air.
Visible to the naked eye, the light spears twisted the atmosphere. The surging shockwaves made it seem as though the entire planet were boiling.
Although the near-vacuum of outer space greatly dampened the transmission of explosion sounds, the mere activation of orbital gun ports and light lance emitters flooded the atmosphere with a blazing orange-red glow.
And as increasingly massive warships and fortresses descended into the planet's atmospheric gravity field—especially as the Thirteenth Legion's flagship fortress lowered further—
The immense mass of the flagship and fleet even triggered multiple low-magnitude earthquakes and tsunami events across the planet's surface.
Naturally, the governments of Earth had no time for disaster relief.
They were already too busy trying to survive.
"After paralyzing all military bases within the Conquered World No. 28 (Date A Live)—further use of heavy destructive weapons such as orbital cannons is prohibited."
"Order the vanguard Astartes Third and Sixth Companies to conduct rapid orbital drop operations. They are responsible for eliminating all organized resistance forces in London (DEM headquarters), Saint Petersburg, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Washington, Tengu... and all other regions."
Legion Commander Roboute of the Thirteenth Legion, the Ultramarines, directed his various military units in eliminating every large-scale resistance force within the world.
"Imperial Auxilia and Servitor Army, advance immediately. After occupying territories, maintain order and conduct secondary sweeps for remaining resistance elements."
"Priority directive: Preserve, as much as possible, the lives of personnel within science bureaus and research institutions."
"Understood, Legion Commander!"
Under Roboute's command, the Ultramarines' major military formations descended upon the planet's surface in disciplined order.
...
London—explicitly designated by Selene as a priority occupation zone—was engulfed in a sea of war the instant the conflict began.
All surrounding airports, naval harbors, military bases, and city police stations were struck by light lances.
The adjustable-output Honkai energy light lance emitter was the optimal choice for orbital bombardment used by all Astartes Legions.
At minimum output, it could surgically destroy a single building with scalpel-like precision.
At maximum output—Exterminatus-level—it could melt through planetary crust.
As the global headquarters of Deus Ex Machina Industries (DEM), the only organization capable of manufacturing Realizer, London's prosperity in this world far exceeded that of its counterparts in other parallel worlds.
When attacked by unknown armed forces, the Anti-Spirit Team SSS[1] and DEM's private security forces joined the battle immediately.
Unfortunately... the strength of the enemies descending from the sky was something they had never witnessed before.
If the average-height Imperial Auxilia and Servitor Army—around 1.9 meters tall—could still be considered within the realm of humanity,
Then the Astartes warriors, standing over 2.7 meters tall, were like death-dealing angels descending from the heavens.
Bang bang bang!
Hum hum hum!
BOOM!
Several SSS members equipped with DEM's latest Realizer were suddenly seized by a massive violet-red energy hand from the sky, dragged downward, and smashed violently into the earth—instantly collapsing multiple buildings.
Relying on their Realizer's Territory to survive by sheer luck, they had barely escaped death.
But before they could recover from the shock, Astartes warriors drove chainblades straight through them and into the ground.
The chainblade teeth, forged with orichalcum and refined through monomolecular sharpening and ultra-high-frequency vibration technology, possessed sharpness sufficient to pierce most Imperial armor.
The SSS members' Territory was clearly included in that category. The roaring hum of the chainblade sounded like a death knell.
"No—please—I don't want to die..."
Watching her Territory fracture and rapidly crack, the SSS member screamed, tears streaming from her eyes. With her delicate features, she might have inspired pity in another setting.
Unfortunately, standing before her was an Astartes—an unfeeling war machine executing Selene's will of expansion.
Slash!
The enemy's cries evoked no mercy. The chainblade accelerated, tearing through the Territory and splitting her in two.
Flesh and bone fragments sprayed outward, painting a hellish tableau—hell empty, devils walking the earth.
The surrounding rebels, witnessing their comrade's death, were plunged into confusion and despair as slaughter and screams erupted in waves of blood and carnage.
"How is this possible? This is DEM's newest Realizer! How could that chainsaw-like primitive weapon shatter a Territory in less than a second?"
As the ace of the Anti-Spirit Team SSS, Artemisia Bell Ashcroft stared in disbelief at her fallen teammates.
Clad in DEM's most advanced Realizer—Ashcroft—she knelt half-collapsed on the ground, covered in dust.
Blood stained the corner of her mouth as she gasped for breath. The energy blade in her hand had already snapped in two, and blood seeped heavily from a wide wound across her abdomen.
"Mortal. Is that not perfectly normal?"
Standing opposite Artemisia was an Astartes officer at least three meters tall.
Upon his left pauldron was the Ultramarines' 'U' insignia encased within a golden double-headed aquila relief. At the center of the 'U' was a clearly visible XIII.
The edges of his blue-and-gold artificer power armor—along the chest, pauldrons, and trim—were adorned with elaborate Gothic precious metal ornamentation. A broad white-and-gold cape flowed behind him.
Judging by the ornate complexity of his armor, he was likely a Company Captain of the Thirteenth Legion.
After using Honkai energy to crush several unlucky insects (SSS members) from a distance, he held a Honkai-powered longsword in one hand and an artificer bolt pistol in the other. His voice was hoarse yet thunderous.
"You are different. I will give you a chance. Surrender—or die."
[1] Special Sorcery Service